LAST EDITED ON Oct-30-12 AT 10:55PM (MST)[p]
LAST EDITED ON Oct-30-12 AT 10:49?PM (MST)
TBone Collector....You asked if I knew anything about this buck.
I tried to sidebar with you but haven't heard back. Wasn't sure if you PM or not? So, I have decided to share it with the world. lol
If this deer was taken where I think it was, I am pretty sure we have had a run in or two.
On opening morning, he avoided about 10 bullets from 3-4 guys trying to lob one at him. It was one of those times you envision the guys the canyon over shooting at a giant,reloading and shooting some more but the buck gets away.
I am 40 years old and have avidly hunted here in this canyon most my life. I bow hunt, so my wife had the permit and gun. I was helping her. It was only her third time deer hunting in 18 years. She has shot a great elk, but not a deer yet. It's never too late to give it a go. We had fun this year, except missing a big buck on the Opening.
We were set up between two good canyons hoping to catch a buck that might get bumped. I told her after all that shooting we better get ready just in case.
Sure enough, it happened just as planed. A dandy buck is on a death run 80 yards below us about 10 minutes after all the shooting. Too fast for my wife to swing on with a scope and sticks. I stopped him on the third loud grunt with my voice but the doe he was with stopped right in front of him and covered his vitals. I couldn't stop him long enough for the doe to clear and she missed him twice while he was on the move again at about 150 yds. He was with a doe and fawn and they all had their mouths open like they had run their guts out. My wife also had gloves on, trying to stay warm which doesn't help when shooting moving deer.
That night I came home and sketched a photo of what I saw to show her what she missed (salt on an open wound) and to show my brothers. Yesterday, I get on MM and it felt like Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind! You know when they build and draw Devils Peak before seeing it in person. It was way too familiar comparing my sketch to your cousin's buck...so I had to ask details. I usually never do this on MM but this was killing me.
That is why I would like to know the canyon on a side conversation with you guys. I think you guys killed him about 3/4 of a mile lower in the aspen and oak from where my wife missed him.
I was on top Friday evening looking down in and could tell the deer moved out lower from the storm. There was only a lone lion track on the face in the fresh high country snow. I think the buck moved down 1000ft and was maybe even getting in with the does?
Here is where it gets even more crazy. If this is the same deer my wife missed, I have been wondering if this is also the buck I made a bad shot on with my bow a few years back? Now that would be way ironic if it is. I haven't seen the buck I hit since that day.
It would have to make your cousin's buck 7-8 years old or older if it is him. (We killed a 28" wide super heavy 2x2 that was 10+ a few years ago in the same canyon..So it can happen. It amazes me they can get that old in today's pressure from hunters, climate and predators.)
The buck I hit had the same compact heavy frame and matching 1-2" cheaters off both sides. He had a good backend and strong G4s. In fact, I think I may have killed his dad a few years before with my bow...same look.
The arrow was a complete pass through... lower third of his chest... in "front" of his shoulder/catching part of the front shoulder but not any leg bone. It was a 45 yard shot in too much left to right wind on the face of the mtn. that morning. I screwed up!
The buck ran a ways and stopped. He was licking his offside wound. I watched him for 1/2 hour with binos doing this. He wasn't bleeding much at all. He walked into the pines and that was the last I saw him. I left him alone all that day and looked for him all day the next. Very little blood and no buck. I was pretty sure it wasn't mortal if it didn't get infected. A deer can close a clean broadhead wound up in as quick as three weeks and are back to normal.
So there is this small Vegas odds possibility in my head and I would love to hear more from you. I can get you my email or cell phone #.
I wonder if this is the same buck my wife missed and I hit years earlier. Could it explain the messed up right side? Was it caused by a poorly placed arrow vs. a fight or another injury? I am pretty sure it is an injury, not genetic. If his pedical/skull plate doesn't appear broken from a fight, then he has most likely hurt his body. Often the damage on a right side antler is the result of damage on the left side of the deer's body.
My wife did get a nice 23-24" four point last Sat. night on the other side of the unit in the low country. It was her first buck. I was happy for her! She has been around tons of hunting but never done it herself much. It's never too late! We were on a 28" wide 24" tall 4x5 earlier that same afternoon. We spotted him and stocked him with my little brother who also had a tag. We bumped him before we could get a good shot off and my brother ended up getting him. Just our luck! Happy for my Bro. though. I had to talk him to going there. It was the last day we could hunt and he had another spot. It was a sweet tall buck! So this all made the opening weekend not sting so bad anymore. That's until I get on MM and see a post from TBONE. Ha,Ha!
I let anyone see my hunting blog that I started this year. Instead of glued photos and a written journal, I keep it all on computer now. Easy to do if you like recording stuff.. I used to be a history teacher, so I like to keep records of the hunts I have been on. You can see pics of my wife's and brother's deer at
www.utahtracker.blogspot.com
Congrats to your cousin and family no matter where it was taken! For all I know, it may not even be the same deer. Hunting is much more than just antler but it sure makes it fun when someone in camp brings in a great deer.
I would appreciate any more info about this buck that you guys feel like you can give up. Thanks!
